Last Chance To See Tracie Bennett As Judy Garland In West End Hit End Of The Rainbow

After a record breaking run at the Trafalgar Studios Peter Quilter’s End of the Rainbow must end on 21 May prior to a UK tour and US opening at the Guthrie, Minneapolis on 18 January 2012. The production will then transfer to Broadway, further details to be announced shortly.

End of the Rainbow, directed by Terry Johnson, stars Laurence Olivier award nominees Tracie Bennett as Judy Garland and Hilton McRae as Anthony. They are accompanied by Stephen Hagan as Mickey Denes and Robin Browne as Radio Interviewer, Porter and Stage Manager, and a six piece band.

The five star critically acclaimed End of the Rainbow opened in Northampton in February 2010 and transferred to the West End in November where it has received standing ovations at every performance since opening night.

Set in London in 1968 and featuring her most memorable songs including The Man That Got Away, Come Rain or Come Shine, The Trolley Song and Somewhere Over the Rainbow, End of the Rainbow combines humour and heartbreak to capture both the drama of Garland’s final performances in London and her controversial life off stage.

End of the Rainbow is designed by William Dudley with sound design by Gareth Owen, lighting by Simon Corder and musical direction by Gareth Valentine and is presented in the West End by Lee Dean, Jenny Topper, Laurence Myers, Charles Diamond and Hilary Williams in association with Royal & Derngate, Northampton.

Release issued by: Premier PR

LINKS

SPECIAL OFFER on tickets to End of the Rainbow at the Trafalgar Studios

Photos: Tracie Bennett as Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow

Photos of End of the Rainbow at the Trafalgar Studios in London starring Tracie Bennett as Judy Garland.

The acclaimed production of End of the Rainbow is currently playing at the Trafalgar Studios in London until 21May 2011. Written by Peter Quilter, Tracie Bennett puts in a critically acclaimed and hugely powerful performance as Judy Garland in the play.

End of the Rainbow, which opened at the Trafalgar Studios in November last year, is directed by Terry Johnson and also stars Hilton McRae as Anthony, Stephen Hagan as Mickey Denes and Robin Browne as Radio Interviewer, Porter and Stage Manager.

Set in London in 1968, End of the Rainbow follows the drama of Garland’s final performances in London and her controversial life off stage.

LINKS

SPECIAL OFFER on tickets to End of the Rainbow at the Trafalgar Studios

More news on End of the Rainbow

End Of The Rainbow To Extend West End Run Due To Public Demand

Following 5 star reviews for Tracie Bennett’s performance as Judy Garland, Peter Quilter’s End of the Rainbow will extend its West End run taking bookings at the Trafalgar Studios until 16 April 2011. Directed by Terry Johnson, End of the Rainbow combines humour and heartbreak to capture both the drama of Garland’s final performances in London and her controversial life off stage. End of the Rainbow, which opened in Northampton in February last year, transferred to the West End in November where it has been receiving standing ovations at every performance since opening night.

Set in London in 1968 and featuring her most memorable songs including The Man That Got Away, Come Rain or Come Shine, The Trolley Song and Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Tracie Bennett is joined by Hilton McRae as Anthony, Garland’s devoted Scottish pianist and musical director, Stephen Hagan as about to be husband number five Mickey Deanes, Robin Browne as Radio Interviewer, Porter and Stage Manager, plus a six piece on stage band.

End of the Rainbow is designed by William Dudley with sound design by Gareth Owen, lighting by Simon Corder and musical direction by Gareth Valentine, End of the Rainbow is presented in the West End by Lee Dean, Jenny Topper, Laurence Myers, Charles Diamond and Hilary Williams in association with Royal & Derngate, Northampton.

In her hotel room, with a new young fiancé at her side, Garland battles with drugs and alcohol as she undertakes an exhausting series of concerts at the Talk of the Town in a bid to reclaim her crown as the greatest talent of her generation. Despite a series of failed marriages and a ruined Hollywood career, she remains a tough and remarkable woman, armed with a legendary razor-sharp wit and a real understanding of the demons that possess her. Yet, within six months, she will be dead at the age of just 47, her body wrecked by the legendary amounts of drink & drugs she had been consuming since a teenager.

Multi award-winning Tracie Bennett’s extensive theatre credits include Jacqueline in Terry Johnson’s production of La Cage Aux Folles at the Playhouse Theatre, and Velma Von Tussle in Hairspray at the Shaftesbury Theatre for which she won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Supporting Role in a Musical. Her other theatre credits include Les Miserables at the Queens Theatre, Sex Chips and Rock n Roll for the Royal Exchange Manchester, High Society at the Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre, Guys and Dolls, Educating Rita and Spring Awakening all for Sheffield Crucible and a national tour of Billy Liar. On television she is best known for her role as Sharon Gaskell in Coronation Street. Her other television credits include Dalziel and Pascoe, Casualty, Vincent and The Royal. On film she played Millandra in Willy Russell’s Shirley Valentine.

Release issued by: Premier PR

LINKS

Book tickets to End of the Rainbow at the Trafalgar Studios in London

Christmas shows in the West End

London’s West End is always a fun place to be at Christmas – whether it’s for the Christmas lights along Regent’s Street and Oxford Street, ice-skating at Somerset House, shopping in a very festive Covent Garden or seeing Santa at Selfridges.

And this year’s London theatre scene is more festive than ever before, with a range of seasonal shows for children, families and adults. Here’s our selection of some of the West End’s Christmas theatre highlights.

Children-friendly family favourites this Christmas include a revival of the critically acclaimed production of Dickens’ classic tale A Christmas Carol at the Trafalgar Studios (from 21 Dec to 8 Jan). It’s also your last Christmas to enjoy the wildly successful production of The Railway Children in the ingenious setting of Waterloo Station, featuring a real steam train. E. Nesbit’s classic children’s story has thrilled audiences from the moment it opened in London, and must close on 2 January.

Making a welcome return to the Peacock Theatre this Christmas is The Snowman, the magical stage version of Raymond Briggs’ much-loved children’s book. Suitable for children aged two and upwards, this is a captivating mix of dance, stagecraft and music – including Howard Blake’s beautiful “Walking in the air”, and featuring a live orchestra.

There’s also Panto fun this year in the West End as CBBC presenters Dan and Jeff take a madcap ride through the best-loved panto stories in Potted Panto at the Vaudeville Theatre (10 Dec to 9 Jan). This funny new family show, that went down a storm in Edinburgh in the Summer, speeds through an incredible seven classic pantomimes.

For a bit of Glee-inspired fun then The Go! Go! Go! Show at the Leicester Square Theatre (until 30 Dec) promises lots of laughs and audience interaction for kids of all ages, in a story that sees five new pop stars battling it out, singing a series of brand new pop songs. Plus the intriguing sounding, sock-stealing ‘Fluffalope’ makes a guest appearance.

Much-loved cartoon characters are also making guest appearances in Theatreland this Christmas, notably The Gruffalo, who follows his monster-hit show last year with a run at the Garrick Theatre, featuring more songs, laughs and scary fun for children aged 3 and up (until 16 Jan). Also the chance to meet Santa Claus in a West End theatre comes in the shape of magical family show The Night Before Christmas at the Ambassadors Theatre, as his story comes to life in a new musical featuring songs, poems and story-telling (7 – 24 Dec).

If you fancy a great big Christmas sing-along this year then they don’t come much bigger than the Christmas Spectacular at the O2, which sees Myleene Klass present a rousing night of carols, traditional tunes and some cracking Christmas number ones on 23 December at the O2 Arena.

A wealth of dance productions promise to get you and your family into the festive spirit this year, including a brand new production of Matthew Bourne’s dazzling ballet Cinderella at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, set in London during the Second World War and played against Prokofiev’s haunting score (until 23 Jan). Also English National Ballet present a sumptuous new production of The Nutcracker at the Coliseum, created by Artistic Director Wayne Eagling to celebrate the Company’s 60th birthday (12 – 30 Dec).

Adult shows include a Christmas season for comedian Bill Bailey at the Wyndham’s Theatre, in his acclaimed show Dandelion Mind (until 8 Jan). Plus the stars of La Clique return to London with some new friends for La Soiree at the fabulously opulent new Southbank Big Top. Sexy and funny, this new show is full of awe-inspiring, spine-tingling, jaw-dropping and death-defying acts of circus and magic (until 30 Jan).

MORE INFORMATION

Listing of Christmas shows in the West End

Musicals this Christmas

Drama and comedy this Christmas

AND DON’T FORGET

• See the Oxford Street and Regent’s Street Christmas lights
• Go ice skating in central London at the London Eye Ice Rink, Somerset House Ice Rink, Winter Wonderland Hyde Park Ice Rink,
• Natural History Museum Ice Rink, Tower of London Ice Rink or the Broadgate Ice Rink.
• See the Trafalgar Square Christmas tree, donated every year by Norway.
• Visit Santa in his grotto and shop at the same time at the Harrods Christmas Grotto and the Selfridges Santa Express.
• Enjoy a traditional German Christmas market in London at the Cologne Christmas Market on the Southbank until 23 December.

End of the Rainbow enjoys rave reviews

A new play about the last months of screen and music legend Judy Garland has received rave reviews in the West End

Award-winning actress Tracie Bennett stars as Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow, which has  transferred to London following a successful run at the Royal & Derngate in Northampton earlier this year.

The show opened at the Trafalgar Studios on Monday, directed by Terry Johnson, who directed Bennett in La Cage Aux Folles at the Playhouse Theatre and recently directed a new production of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice at the Vaudeville.

Peter Quilter’s touching play is set in London in 1968 and features some of Garland’s most memorable songs including The Man That Got Away, Come Rain or Come Shine, The Trolley Song and Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Tracie Bennett stars alongside Hilton McRae as Anthony, Garland’s devoted pianist and musical director and Stephen Hagan as soon-to-be husband number five Mickey Deanes.

Tracie Bennett gives a career-defining performance in the show, and is tipped to win a number of high profile awards with her sensitive and powerful portrayal of Garland, in a role that showcases her acting and singing ability with an uncanny physical and vocal resemblance to the star.

Charles Spencer in the Telegraph and Libby Purves in the Times awarded the show five stars, with Spencer saying that, “there are moments in the theatre when you lean forward in your seat with shivers racing down the spine, and realise there is nowhere on God’s earth you’d rather be. End of the Rainbow is one such occasion”. Henry Hitchings gave it four stars in the Evening Standard, praising Bennett’s performance as, “courageous — raw, emotional and astonishingly energetic. It’s much more than a skilful impersonation; it feels as if she has assimilated the essence of Garland’s personality”. Paul Vale in the stage hailed Terry Johnson’s direction as “practically flawless”.

SPECIAL OFFER: Save £15 on tickets to End of the Rainbow at the Trafalgar Studios in London

LINKS

Read an interview with Tracie Bennett

End of the Rainbow – Reviews Round-up

A round-up of press reviews for End of the Rainbow: Olivier Award winner Tracie Bennett puts in a career-defining performance as Judy Garland in Peter Quilter’s new musical play based on the star’s final days, directed by Terry Johnson.

Book tickets to End of the Rainbow at the Trafalgar Studios

Opening this week: Rainbow and Fela!

This week’s West End openings include End of the Rainbow, FELA! and The Master Builder.

End of the Rainbow

Today, Monday 15 November, sees the start of previews for End of the Rainbow at the Trafalgar Studios. Tracie Bennett gives an outstanding performance as Judy Garland in Peter Quilter’s touching play about the drama of Garland’s final performances in London and her controversial life off stage.

Set in London in 1968, the play features some of Garland’s most memorable songs including The Man That Got Away, Come Rain or Come Shine, The Trolley Song and Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Olivier award-winner Tracie Bennett gives a career-defining performance as Garland, alongside Hilton McRae as Anthony, Garland’s devoted pianist and musical director and Stephen Hagan as soon-to-be husband number five, Mickey Deanes.

End of the Rainbow is directed by Terry Johnson, who directed Bennett in La Cage Aux Folles at the Playhouse Theatre and recently directed a new production of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice at the Vaudeville. Read an interview with Tracie Bennett.

SPECIAL OFFER: Save on tickets to see End of the Rainbow at the Trafalgar Studios

FELA!

Opening this week, on Tuesday 16 November, is the Broadway production of FELA!, which comes to the National Theatre for a limited run. In New York Fela! started off-Broadway before raves reviews propelled it on to the Great White Way where it continues to pack in audiences.

A unique hybrid of dance, theatre and music, the show explores the extravagant, decadent and rebellious world of Afrobeat legend Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. Co-written, directed and choreographed by Bill T Jones (Spring Awakening), Fela! exposes Kuti’s controversial life as an artist, commune founder, polygamist and political activist, set against the backdrop of his pioneering music, which fuses  jazz, funk and African rhythm and harmonies.

The stars of the Broadway production, Sahr Ngaujah and Kevin Mambo, have come to London for the show, and will alternate in the roles of Fela, alongside a brand new British cast including UK stage star Paulette Ivory (The Lion King, Aida) who plays American political activist Sandra Izsadore.

LINK: National Theatre

The Master Builder

On Wednesday, Gemma Arterton and Stephen Dillane open in the Almeida’s new production of Ibsen classic The Master Builder. The play is directed by Travis Preston, an internationally celebrated theatre and opera director who is also Artistic Director of the Center for New Performance at the California Institute of the Arts.

LINK: Almeida Theatre

And coming soon

Opening next week… End of the Rainbow gets its official first night on 22 November. Also on Monday Maureen Nolan takes over from Lyn Paul as Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers, and happy 80th birthday Sir Peter Hall. Tuesday 23rd see Penelope Keith and Peter Bowles open in The Rivals at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, and on Wednesday kid’s show The Gruffalo returns to the West End for Christmas. Previewing from 27 November is Chichester’s movie-to-musical Love Story at the Duchess Theatre, produced by Michael Ball.

In two weeks… Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella makes a glamorous return to Sadler’s Wells on 30 November. Also on the 30th, the RSC takes residence at the Roundhouse for the Winter season with Romeo & Juliet, Anthony & Cleopatra, The Winter’s Tale, Julius Caesar, As You Like It, King Lear, Hamlet and The Comedy of Errors; plus Derek Jacobi gives his King Lear at the Donmar (3 December) and Tom Hollander starts previews of A Flea in Her Ear at the Old Vic (4 December).

In three weeks… Love Story gets its official opening night at the Duchess starring Emma Williams and Michael Xavier on 6 December; those CBBC rascals Dan and Jeff bring Pantomime mayhem to the Vaudeville with Edinburgh family hit Potted Panto on 10 December; and on the same night English National Ballet open their seasonal production of The Nutcracker at the London Coliseum in a sumptuous new production by Artistic Director Wayne Eagling to celebrate the Company’s 60th birthday.

A Christmas Carol

The critically acclaimed production of Dickens’ classic tale A Christmas Carol returns to the West End. Perfect entertainment for the whole family (suitable for children 6+).

Star Interview: Tracie Bennett

There’s got to be a first time for everyone, even West End stars. Here’s the low-down on multi award-winning actress Tracie Bennett and her first key show-biz experiences – including reading reviews, her first job and a brush with fame that changed her forever.

My first audition was for Umbrellas of Cherbourg in the West End! I got the lead because they told me I looked like the girl in the film. But in those days you had to have 42 weeks on your equity card in order to even work on a West End stage so I couldn’t do it. Oh how times change!

My first job, apart from the paper round and packing ice pops into boxes in the summer hols, was for Liptrotts Fruit and Veg on the markets up North. It was hard graft but I loved it, apart from the humongous spiders in the bananas. It was great earning your own money every Saturday as a kid and it kept me very fit. £4 a day and a box of fruit and veg to take home on my shoulder for my Mum! But there were no computerised tills back then so I had to work everything out in my head and we froze to near death in the winter. I used to give little old ladies an extra potato or orange on the sly! Truly happy days.

My first kiss was with a lad called Jamie from Scotland who came down to see relatives one summer. Can’t remember how old I was but he looked like a mini Bay City Roller! Shame I was into David Cassidy at the time but I did go out with a Cassidy lookalike a few years later. We used to go pub crawling, Northern soul dancing and have a curry after. A proper Northern, heavenly night out. The innocence…

My first time on stage was playing Rachmaninov with an orchestra when I was ten. I went to the Royal Northern School Of Music. I was totally crap on the piano but I liked the lessons, discipline and the challenge. It never took to me though – however hard I tried. Shame. I have a lot of musician friends to this day and in my head I feel more like a musician than an actor.

My first bad review was for Educating Rita. It said that I strutted around the stage like a crap in a steel corset. I howled with laughter. Brilliant!! I was just 21 and far too young to play her. But then I read another review and it was really complimentary, saying how fabulous I was – the exact opposite of the other one. Consequently, I have never read reviews. Who do you believe? What can you learn from them?

My first big break in telly was, I suppose, Coronation Street. But before that I did Going Out for Phil Redmond, which people still remember. All the London actors were in it and I was a bit scared but I had a great bed scene with the lovely Perry Benson who is fab in This is England. Hilarious. The Street only had a few of us in those days and I was thrown in at the deep end with six cameras and long speeches, but it was a genius training ground. I learned so much, except perhaps how to deal with 30 million viewers knowing who I was.

My first celebrity encounter was meeting Leslie Crowther. I was about six and on holiday in Paignton. Crackerjack was a massive children’s programme back then and he was in a boxing ring-type thing on the seafront signing autographs for everyone. So I queued up for three hours on a hot day, whilst my family played crazy golf nearby to keep an eye on me. I was soooo excited, but when it was finally my turn he shouted at me for not having a pen or a fiver for the charity he was signing for. I was so upset when he told me to go get the money and queue up again. A fiver was a lot of money back then! I went back to my Dad to tell him what had happened, and he very nearly went to kill him! I believe that I’d be good with fans even if this hadn’t happened, but after that I have always given more time than I might have done because I remember the devastation and humiliation I felt.

* * * *

Tracie Bennett is starring as Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow at the Trafalgar Studios in London from 15 November. Peter Quilter’s play, directed by Terry Johnson, combines humour and heartbreak to capture both the drama of Garland’s final performances in London and her controversial life off stage.

Book tickets to End of the Rainbow at the Trafalgar Studios

Tracie Bennett as Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow – Ticket Offer

Save £14.75 on tickets to see award-winning actress Tracie Bennett as Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow.

The sell-out production of End of the Rainbow is to transfer to the West End, opening at the Trafalgar Studios in London on 22 November 2010, with previews from 16 November.

Olivier Award winner Tracie Bennett stars as Judy Garland in the show, which combines humour and heartbreak to follow Garland’s final performances in London – and her last days alive.

The show is directed by Terry Johnson, who directed Bennett in La Cage Aux Folles at the Playhouse Theatre and recently directed a new production of The Rise and Fall of Little Voice at the Vaudeville.

Peter Quilter’s touching play is set in London in 1968 and features some of Garland’s most memorable songs including The Man That Got Away, Come Rain or Come Shine, The Trolley Song and Somewhere Over the Rainbow. Tracie Bennett stars alongside Hilton McRae as Anthony, Garland’s devoted pianist and musical director and Stephen Hagan as soon-to-be husband number five Mickey Deanes.

Tracie Bennett gives a career-defining performance in the show, and is tipped to win a number of high profile awards with her sensitive and powerful portrayal of Garland, in a role that showcases her acting and singing ability with an uncanny physical and vocal resemblance to the star.

SPECIAL OFFER: Book tickets to End of the Rainbow at the Trafalgar Studios in London

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